KUCHING: Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) is resorting to partial road closures and deploying more traffic wardens to mitigate a growing traffic congestion problem in its jurisdiction.
“It is driven by an influx of residents due to the rise of quality housing, leading to a significant population,” said Mayor Hilmy Othman in ackowledging the issue at hand.
“The council recognises that traffic congestion is a growing issue that must be addressed, leading us to study the situation, which reveals significant increases in congestion across several areas,” he said to the media at the Sarawak Aerobig Day held at the Sarawak State Library on Sunday (Sept 22).
The Tun Abdul Rahman road heading into the city centre via the Satok Suspension Bridge is one of the identified congested roads.
“We have already conducted a two-week pilot project, and our findings show that by closing part of the road, the traffic flow into the city centre has slightly improved.
“We have reopened the roads, and after analysing the data and feedback, we plan to implement the partial road closures that we trialled during the pilot project,” he said.
Hilmy also said the best solution for the traffic conditions on the road, especially the road approaching the roundabout near Normah Medical Centre (NMC), is to increase the number of traffic wardens.
“We have begun deploying additional wardens in these areas, as this is the most viable action the council can take, though currently, city wardens are unable to effectively manage midday traffic congestion, particularly during school dismissal hours,” he stated.
Additionally, the Sarawak government has initiated the construction of an underpass connecting to Darul Hana. Since the existing Darul Hana is already an underpass, DBKU believes this approach should continue rather than opting for flyovers.
“As we assess the situation, we recognise that while implementing an underpass may compromise the aesthetic appeal of the roundabout, careful planning will ensure we maintain its beauty.
“Additionally, we may explore alternative routes to divert traffic, but for now, the city council should prioritise increasing the number of traffic wardens to address immediate congestion issues,” he said.
